HCM CITY — VinaCapital Ventures, the technology investment company of VinaCapital, on Friday announced the appointment of Dr Philipp Rosler, former German vice chancellor, as the chairman of its advisory board.

Rosler will provide counsel to both VinaCapital Ventures and its investees.

Born in Sóc Trăng Province, he was adopted at a young age and grew up in Germany. In 2011 he became vice chancellor and minister of economics and technology, and became actively engaged with and promoted the start-up community.

He was the steward of the High-Tech Grunderfonds, a public-private partnership which has invested nearly three million euros and launched more than 500 high-tech companies.

He served as an advisor to the Founder’s Fund, a US-based technology fund known for its connection with companies such as Space X, Uber, PayPal and Palantir.

Don Lam, co-founder of VinaCapital, said: “Philipp’s experience and perspective are extraordinarily unique. He has served in both the public and private sectors; as a physician and a legislator; with large established companies and small start-ups.

“In Europe, he was as a bridge between German start-ups and Silicon Valley, and now he will play this and other roles for start-ups in Việt Nam.”

Rosler said, “Since leaving the German government and the World Economic Forum, I have been keen to apply the varied experiences I have gained over the years and, if possible, do so in the country of my birth, and this opportunity enables me to do precisely that.

“Việt Nam is blessed with enormous energy and talent and I look forward to playing a part in helping Vietnamese start-ups realise their full potential.”

At the ceremony, VinaCapital Ventures also announced its two newest investments in UrBox, a digital e-gifting platform, and Wee Digital, a fintech company that seeks to make digital banking safer and more intuitive.

UrBox has an extensive merchant network comprising hundreds of merchants and more than 3,000 outlets across Việt Nam ranging from food, beverage and entertainment establishments.

Wee Digital was founded by Vietnamese-French serial entrepreneur Christian Nguyễn. It offers solutions that aim to define the consumer’s digital banking experience using biometric “identity” technology and artificial intelligence.

It has quickly built a high-profile client base of some of the country’s leading conglomerates and banks.

The terms of the investments were not disclosed.

Launched in 2018, VinaCapital Ventures is a US$100 million technology holding company that invests in the next generation of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian start-ups. — VNS